DVDs in Review

Law and Order: Special Victims Unit Season Nine

Title: Law and Order: Special Victims Unit Season Nine

Release date: August 31 2009

Certificate: 15

Format: DVD

DVD RRP: £44.99

Rating: 4/5

As one of the most respected crime dramas on US television, it was inevitable that some spin-offs would emerge, and to their credit, these have proven to be just as effective as their parent show. 'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' is no exception.

The Special Victims Unit of the New York Police Department handles sexual assault related cases, considering to be especially heinous as the opening narration informs us. The mixture of detectives, district attorneys, medical examiners and psychiatrists really flesh out the series into a fully-fledged drama that encompasses all aspects of the investigation.

In short it feels real, but it isn't too strictly focussed on one character that it becomes particularly monotonous. The attention to detail is excellently in-depth and the archetypical characters allow any passive viewer to jump in without worrying about the seasons that came previously.

Detective Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) back after a nifty plot to disguise the star's maternity leave, and there's plenty of guest stars to keep things interesting - Cynthia Nixon, Melissa Joan Hart and Robin Williams is astonishing in the show's 200th episode 'Authority' as he pretends to be a cop to form a vigilante mob and media frenzy.

While 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent' has far more interesting central characters (and a phenomenal lead performance from Vincent D'Onofrio), this spin-off should satisfy crime fiction lovers.